FINLEY YEARS

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WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS: 1972, 1973, 1974
The “TEAM OF THE CENTURY” 1974 Sports Illustrated
Post-season playoffs FIVE CONSECUTIVE YEARS

THE FINLEY LEGACY: 1960 to 1980

  • 1960 – Charlie O. Finley purchased Kansas City Athletics
  • 1963 – Changed the team colors to green and gold (reason explained in Nancy’s book)
    • First team to have bright vibrant team uniform colors
  • 1963 – Cousin Carl A. Finley joined the team as Vice-President, from Dallas Texas
  • 1964 – Charlie O. the Mule was team mascot, a gift from Governor of Missouri
  • 1968 moved team from Kansas City to Oakland
  • Started the designated hitter now in use in the American League
  • Started night games for World Series games
  • 1972-1974 – 3 consecutive world series champions
  • 1973 – Promoted the use of orange baseballs for better visibility (never caught on)
  • 1971-1975 – Post season contenders 5 years in a row 
  • 1977 – Charlie O. the Mule died in 1977, was cremated. Location of remains are secret
  • 2000 – The 72-74 team selected as “Baseball Team of the Century” by Sports Illustrated
  • Oakland A’s managers during their 3-time consecutive world series championships:
    • Dick Williams: 1972, 1973
    • Alvin Dark: 1974
  • 1980 – Team sold

CLOSE UP

  • Charlie Finley never sued the City of Oakland for breaking their promises. He was not a litigator.
  • After the sale of the Oakland A’s in 1980, the new owners did not want to use the rabbit “Harvey”, who popped up out of the ground to supply new baseballs to the pitcher. Harvey’s eyes glowed as he turned in a circle, and descended back into the ground.
  • Whatever happened to Harvey, anyway? 
  • During the World Series era in the early to mid-1970’s, the stars of the hit T.V. show “Charlie’s Angles” were in negotiations to visit the Oakland Coliseum, and sit next to A’s owner Charlie Finley. Unfortunately, this fell through. Why?
  • Why did Charlie promote his cousin Carl’s 16 year old daughter, Nancy, to “Vice President” and how long did that last?
  • In May 1996, the Oakland Coliseum had a Charlie Finley day, in which they presented a green and white street sign that said “CHARLIE FINLEY DR.”.   A replica of this street sign was given to Carl A. Finley, Jr., and three of Charlie’s children who attended.   Oddly, the original sign was to be placed in Mesa, Arizona where Spring training is held. Mesa, Arizona???
  • Where did Finley get the team colors, green & gold? These were the colors for his favorite football team, Notre Dame. But, is that all there is to the story?
  • Look for all the answers in Nancy Finley’s memoir, “FinleyBall.”

MEMORIES

Author and columnist Marcy Bachmann (left) and Carl Finley’s daughter Nancy, taking a ride on Charlie ‘O (circa 1975-76). Marcy had a daily column in the Oakland Tribune called Frankly Female, and was the only female journalist to cover the A’s World Series games in 1974 and the post-season games in 1975.

February 28, 1964 Charlie Finley, owner of the Kansas City A’s, signing four year lease for Municipal Stadium, as Carl Finley, Stadium Manger, looks on.

1979, Carl Finley, the “unseen hand” behind the team’s success, with his daughter, Nancy Finley, the A’s “Dugout Daughter.” She came of age amid the tumult and glory of baseball history.  Click here to see more about Carl.

April 23, 2003, COMES FULL CIRCLE: A quarter of a century later, Nancy’s daughter, Taylor Finley-King, age 10, throws out the first pitch at the Oakland A’s game against the Detroit Tigers.

Taylor Finley-King, age 10, gets a hug from legendary Reggie Jackson. Taylor is the grand-daughter of A’s Vice-President Carl Finley, who managed the team’s affairs during the big years. It will be a long time before young Taylor understands how Jackson and the Team of The Century imprinted a legacy of sacrifice and excellence that will affect her life.

Nancy Finley wrote the untold story in her book “FinleyBall”:

Vida Blue says: “A book from the Finley point of view is long overdue. Nancy was there! She saw it happen. Our ‘dynasty’ is one of the biggest stories in all of baseball history.”

NOW AVAILABLE IN BOOK STORES AND ONLINE
Click here to learn more

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